Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sgt Grit,
I wanted to share a photo of my buddy John and I at the U.S. Marines Memorial at Fisherman's Park, North Tonawanda, NY. It is very humbling and I recommend all past and present Marines to see the Memorial if you are in the area. The bronze colored area of the memorial are hundreds of small plaques dedicated to our brothers in arms.
In response to D. Suter, the vehicle pictured (see attached) belongs to the Conrad F. Kania detachment, Marine Corps League, the Tonawandas, New York. It is named Chesty Puller and is used in parades in the Western New York area. This MCL detachment is also responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of the U. S. Marine Corps memorial in Veteran's Park, North Tonawanda, NY. I have attached a picture of the memorial from one of the annual Marine Appreciation Days held in July.
Sgt Grit:
I am trying to locate and/or get any available information about a Marine, Malachy Murphy, that I grew up with as a youngster, and later served briefly with when we were "young" Marines. I thought perhaps one (or more) of your Newsletter subscribers may have known or even served with Malachy. I am writing a story about Malachy and would really like to talk with anyone who may have known him in or out of the Corps. He may be deceased, as all efforts to locate him and his family (and I have written many letters) have not produced any results. You have no idea how many "Malachy Murphy's" there are out there, I have found many in my search efforts, including on Ancestsry.com and other similar sites. Some have written and given me a Malachy Murphy they thought was him; even though the date of birth was different, I checked that lead out and it was not him.
Marine Trainer
MGYSGT Charles (Chunks) Padilla on your left in the attached photo is a member of the Gumpathon Team who will run/bike/walk across the USA, starting in New York and ending in Santa Monica, California.
The Gumpathon is a charity run for the “Injured Marine Fund” and all donations to help the wounded warriors will be appreciated.
Sgt Grit,
1st Sgt Holman here again. Picture is of my wife and I next to my bird up in Bridge Port, cold weather train base CA. Not bad when you go from a grunt to the air wing, and get your wings and you and your wife are in the same squadron (HMH769) and you can fly together. Team Work. Call signs Wonder Woman and Capt. America. 18 years of flying and got pulled back into the grunts for Desert Storm. That's the Corps for ya! But you gotta love it and we do. All of our married life and a few before we met. Semper Fi
Dear Sgt Grit in case you did not know it, I read your article on Korea 1950. I had the honor of being at the Chosin with the 1st Div and serving under CHESTY then a Col. And I am glad to learn about the memorial.
There is another being done at CAMP PENELTON; Ca. on 9/16/10 on the 60 year memorial service at the base a beautiful granite stone next to the Iwo Jima memorial KOREA CHOSIN FEW was dedicated. The Commandant, Gen Conway and several other brass was present, also guest speaker Ret. Capt Dale Dye USMC also producer of new film "CHOSIN" just being released. There were several members of the 1st Div that were present and I was so proud of them many of course my seniors being I was very young at the time.
I joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 5/5/55. Before I went into boot camp July 3, 1956, I had two weeks of training in July of 1955. During the first week we were at Coronado Navy Base/UDT, which is the base that the SEAL’s train today in California. We trained for amphibious landings after lots of classes. We went down to the beach and loaded on to LCM’s and went to the APA, attack transport, which was anchored several miles off shore. We climbed the cargo nets with all of our equipment. The next morning we climbed down the cargo net and headed for the beach. I was in the third wave of boats, LCVP’s . The next day we assaulted two hills at Camp Elliott; the assaults went in to the night. The second week we were at Camp Mathews which is the rifle range for boot camp. I was trained on the M1 Grand rifle and the .45 ACP pistol. I qualified and could shoot at a man at 500 yards and hit him with my M1 Rifle. Also, I trained with the BAR, .30 cal air cooled machine gun. I did helicopter assault training and a helicopter assault. There is no information in my files about being aboard a ship or a helicopter. I have a picture of the helicopter with me standing next to it, USMC official photo. This picture shows proof that I was there. This took place between my junior and senior year of high school. I also marched in a Veterans Day parade – November of 1955 in Long Beach, California with my unit – the 15th rifle Co. USMCR, U.S. Navy Ammunition & Net Depot Seal Beach, California.
Sgt Grit,
Picture is of my wife on her birthday in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan and yes that is who you think it is, Mr. Bruce Willis. He and his bad where driving through visiting troops Sept. 27, 2003. I just wish I knew how to make contact with him to get it signer for her. She has this picture everywhere, on her desk, at home, and I even have it on my desk too. Great star and great down to Earth person. She said he was tired but he still took time our for a picture and wished her a Happy Birthday. He made her day and a dream come true of meeting him in person. Thanks Mr. Bruce Willis.
Dear Sgt Grit,
My daughter Erica Rogan was recently in your store. She lives in CA and was visiting Oklahoma. Her first stop was of course Sgt Grit’s Store. You happened to be in the store that day. It was your birthday.
You were so kind to take a picture with her and also autograph a catalog for me. I will be framing that. Thank You!!! I read every newsletter and regularly order from you online store.
